Chief Minister Lalduhoma said it during a discussion on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address in the assembly. He further added that his government had no intention of lifting the ban on hard liquor but was planning to regulate the sale of wine and beer.

He said that a bill to amend the prohibition law will be introduced in the assembly during the ongoing budget session. “Our excise and narcotics minister will introduce an amendment bill to the existing prohibition law to regulate the sale of beer and wine, during this ongoing budget session,” he said.

The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act was enacted by the previous MNF government in 2019, which replaced the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) Act, 2014, brought by the then Congress government, allowing the sale of wine in the state. The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act imposed a blanket ban on the sale, manufacture and consumption of liquor, including wine and beer, in the state, barring three autonomous district councils.

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In September 2022, the government allowed the manufacture, sale and export of wines processed from locally-grown grapes following massive protests by grape growers.

The first wine shop in Mizoram was opened in 1984. After 11 years of relaxation and partial prohibition, the then Congress government introduced The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995, which imposed a complete ban on liquor.

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The total prohibition was enforced in the State until 2014 when the government allowed the sale of wine. The prohibition in the Christian-majority state is often blamed for the prevalence of drug abuse among a large section of the youth.

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Mizoram has been under various shades of prohibition for decades, largely influenced by the stance of churches and organizations that have favored stringent restrictions. The state has alternated between complete bans and partial prohibition over the years.

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In 1984, wine shops were permitted under the Mizoram Excise Act, 1973, but they were shut down in 1987. The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995, which imposed a complete ban, was enforced from 1997.

Also Read : Government Abolishes Prohibition in Mizoram

Prohibition has not succeeded as a policy in any country including the US where it was enforced from December 1920 in various phases (it is a State subject) but was repealed in 1933 after 13 years of failure and adding mammoth social problems. Even today, the US is mired with several inconsistencies, thanks to the diversified views.

Subhash Arora